A few days ago we helped my son Nathan make his first homemade Halloween costume. I’m embarrassed to admit, but this is the first year we have fully embraced the fun and festivities and attempted a homemade costume. I’ve always wanted to, but normally Nathan has always eyed something in the store that he really wanted to be like Elmo, a spider etc. (except last year when he wanted to wear his own flight suit to be a fighter pilot like Daddy!). And, it just made things a lot easier anyway.
This year Nathan is really into Disney’s Wall-E, and robots in general. So, we made our own robot. First, we spray painted two rectangular boxes with silver metallic paint. Next, we cut the bottom out of the “body” box, and we also cut a head hole and arm holes. In the ... More

For a fun family activity last night we thought it would be fun to do some pumpkin carving. It was an amusing evening that our two boys thoroughly enjoyed.As soon as I left work, I picked up the boys and we drove down to a local outdoor produce stand that always seems to have a great selection of pumpkins, all in different shapes and sizes, each one seemed to have their own personality. I think Josh and Jake changed their minds on which pumpkin they each wanted about eight times. Originally Josh was really set on a small pumpkin just a little bit larger than my fist, (I don’t think I have the patience to carve a pumpkin that small), so I had to use my best diplomatic efforts to convince him to choose a different pumpkin. He eventually chose another one-- the largest one out there. Jake also... More

We headed up to Dallas this past weekend to visit my in-laws. My sister-in-law is a Director and Consultant for Creative Memories, a scrapbooking company. Personally, I’ve always been anti-scrapbooking because I detest never-ending projects! I’m a person that likes to see the fruits of my labor and I want to be able to relish in the feeling of accomplishment and productivity when I see a project completed. Plus, I’m way too anal retentive…I hate cutting and gluing my pictures, I feel like I’m ruining them. I also loathe messes so I’d spend way more time cleaning up and organizing my supplies than working on my scrapbook!
But, there is a new scrapbooking fad that is a little more up my ally…digital scrapbooks! No fancy-schmancy paper, no glue or &... More

Saturday was a winterizing day for me. We got about eight inches of snow last weekend, so I figured I better take advantage of the beautiful fall day and get the shed cleaned out and then packed up with all of our patio playthings.
As you can see from the photos, my shed is absolutely packed. I guess that's what a shed is supposed to look like, isn't it? I had a unique opportunity of being a part of the team that developed the shed - from start to finish. I remember when it came up as an idea for a new product, I remember reading through the miles and miles of research about it and I remember seeing the prototypes as they came and went. I know more about these sheds than any other Lifetime product, and I am exceedingly proud of them.
I also bought one of the first sheds we produced. According to the serial numbers... More

Tuesday night was my turn to host our Air Force squadron’s monthly wives’ meeting. The evenings in Texas are just starting to cool down so I figured it would be the perfect opportunity to serve my favorite Fall foods - soup and pumpkin desserts!
I didn’t want to spend too much time and effort on decorating since the meetings are supposed to be simple. So, I planned to eat outside in the cool autumn air and allow Mother Nature to provide my décor. Well, unfortunately, Mother Nature didn’t exactly cooperate with her end of the deal…apparently she thinks low 80s is ideal for Fall!? But, after the sun set, it did feel slightly “brisk”.
I borrowed three of bales of straw from a friend to set around in the yard as easy Fall decorations and extra seati... More

If you run a pre-school, a day care, or just have children at home, you probably know all too well what creative little ones can do to furniture. I neither have children, nor have I taught children. But I’ve seen Daddy Day Care and that was enough to know that things break when children are invited to do their worst.
If children were to work with our Research and Design lab, I think they’d come up with some interesting new tests. I remember using Lifetime Banquet Tables as slides in our game room. Then my sisters and I would put foam mats on top of them and use them as tall beds for sleepovers. I have a vague memory of reenacting the princess and the pea once… lucky for me, no injuries were incurred.
Anyway, the other day a co-worker gave gave me an ingenious idea-- The Pre-School Expe... More

Michael’s last posting talked about all of the basketball hoops he passed on his drive home. So, I started looking around during my drives as well. Normally, this Lifetime365 blog has been featuring upbeat, inspirational stories. But, the overall purpose of a corporate blog is to be open and honest. So, sometimes, it needs to serve as a reality check.
Unfortunately, instead of counting how many basketball hoops I passed on my drive, I noticed how many people set up their basketball hoops improperly. I pass this particular basketball hoop in the photo on my way to take my son to preschool everyday and it just makes me cringe. It reminds me of one of those children’s coloring book games where you are supposed to find and circle all of the things wrong in the picture. This photo has so ... More

Interesting little story here. I recently received this email from Joanne Nelson of Exeter, Rhode Island:
“I purchased a Lifetime Personal Table several years ago and I love it. I am a quilter and this little table goes with me when I go to classes because I can set my sewing machine on it and adjust the height to exactly what I need so it is ergonomically correct for my sitting position…”
“However... I recently brought my table to a quilting retreat to let a 84 yr old lady, who is tiny, borrow my table so she could sew comfortably for the 5 day retreat. She was so happy about the table that I wanted to buy one for her. I found one and brought it home only to be very disappointed in the redesign of it.”
“My table has metal legs and they are secured into a metal frame wor... More

Over the years, my father has developed into the quintessential pack rat. To the horror of my mother and us kids, he has been able to build two large sheds and fill them both to the brim with all sorts of stuff. My mother and I are the exact opposite of my father. We are all about maintaining a nice, uncluttered home. That being said, we would love to break my father of his habit, and bring in a large dumpster to clear everything out. However, we haven’t been able to bring ourselves to accomplish this goal due to the fact that he seems to have developed a deep connection to everything he has collected.
Ever since my father has been unable to set foot into his large shed, he has dreamed of building a lean-to to the shed that would enable him to move stuff out of it and create a path into the shed. With my father&r... More

Categories

Tetherball poles, new at BuyLifetime
Since the very beginning, Lifetime Products has been in the basketball business. Theyve made strong, durable poles, backboards, and rims, and innovated the adjustable height mechanism which brought basketball younger kids.
Following in this tradition, Lifetime Products introduces the Lifetime Tetherball system!
Many of you grown-ups out there probably remember the deluxe tetherball pole from your school-yard, and the heated competitive tetherball contests that would ensue during recess. With the Lifetime Tetherball system, now you can bring those childhood memories into your backyard so a whole new generation of tetherballers to enjoy!
Whether its Tether Ball, Tetherball Sets, or Tetherball Pole, Tetherball is a great traditional outdoor game, and fun for all ages.

Lifetime's Deck Box Wins "Biggest" Award
Well, winter is officially upon us. Now that you finally (or hopefully) have all of your summer backyard accessories stored, did you once again find yourself running out of places to stuff all of your patio cushions and pool supplies? Yes? Thought so. Well, then it's time to stop buying yet another tiny storage container to add to your collection already cluttering your deck. Treat yourself to a super-sized deck box instead!
Lifetime's new 130-gallon deck box is huge! (So, quite frankly, if you've only got a tiny place you want to put a deck box, this isn't for you.) But, don't just take our word for it. Consumers Digest awarded the Lifetime Deck Box a Best Buy award in September 2009, stating "This unit delivers the most storage capacity of any deck box and includes the best warranty of any horizontal shed that we found. A ...

"Salute Our Troops" This Memorial Day!
Come support our local military this Memorial Day at the 3rd annual "Salute Our Troops" event at the Lifetime Store! The event will be held at our Riverdale, Utah store location ONLY!
Special Memorial Day activities and promotions will be held all day, so bring the whole family! There will be product giveaways, contests, prizes, and more! Frankie from 97.1 ZHT will be broadcasting live from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the store, along with fun activities and contests throughout the whole day.
The great thing about this event is that 5% of proceeds from the Memorial Day sales at the Riverdale location will be donated to the Utah Military Families Foundation (UMFF). UMFF is a privately-funded non-profit organization headquartered at Hill Air Force Base that supports over 80,000 military families throughout Utah.
In addition to donat...

Black Friday!!!
What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving? My wife’s favorite part is going shopping! I find more satisfaction in staying home, eating too much, and watching football, but, to each their own. I went one year with my wife and after I got beat by a bunch of spry and motivated ladies while trying to get some sheets, I decided to retire from Black Fridaying (is that even a word?).
My goal is to help you know where you can find our products. With so many different retailers carrying our products, I wanted to help you wade through the mess.
If you’re looking for a new basketball hoop, Sports Authority,
The Kids’ Table is Now the Cool Table
I can’t even tell you how excited I am about our new Kid’s Furniture! This is a project that the whole company has rallied around – even employees can’t wait to get their hands on these!
The Lifetime Children’s Square Folding Table and Stacking Chairs are hitting Costco stores this week! They are absolutely perfect for homes, daycares, parties, etc. and would be great as your kids’ Thanksgiving Table this year.
The table comes in our traditional almond color, and the cute stack chairs are available in blue, green, and almond. The great thing about our tables...

Love my Pumpkin Carving Table!
Halloween is such a fun time of year! Who doesn’t love costumes, face paint, spooky decorations – and my personal favorite – pumpkin carving?!
So last night, my husband and I set out on our pumpkin carving adventure. My husband not only carves pumpkins, but he is amazing at shaving in faces, and doing all sorts of cool stuff. Over the years, he has helped me get more and more into it as well.
Since I knew this was going to get pretty messy, I didn’t really want to use my wooden kitchen table, so I decided to pull out my trusty 4-Foot Fold-In-Half Lifetime Table. We live in a smaller apartment, so this is the perfect table for us. It is super easy to store and ...

Black Friday!!!
What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving? My wife’s favorite part is going shopping! I find more satisfaction in staying home, eating too much, and watching football, but, to each their own. I went one year with my wife and after I got beat by a bunch of spry and motivated ladies while trying to get some sheets, I decided to retire from Black Fridaying (is that even a word?).
My goal is to help you know where you can find our products. With so many different retailers carrying our products, I wanted to help you wade through the mess.
If you’re looking for a new basketball hoop, Sports Authority,
Children’s Furniture Giveaway Winner!!!
Wow! Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only one week away!? It seems like it has come super fast!
Thank you for all of the responses! We had over a hundred!!! Here are a here are a few of my favorite:
“These are so adorable! Thank you for thinking outside the box and producing a child's chair that is useful, fun, and practical!” – Shara H.
“We love the durability of our other Lifetime products and love that there is now an option for a kids table and chairs that will stand up to the messes and rough housing of our three little kids. The chairs look cool and super comfortable too!” –Melarie W.
“So COOL!” – Clint P.
“I am in love with the new kid's table and chairs! I especially love the blue and green. I've been look...

The Kids’ Table is Now the Cool Table
I can’t even tell you how excited I am about our new Kid’s Furniture! This is a project that the whole company has rallied around – even employees can’t wait to get their hands on these!
The Lifetime Children’s Square Folding Table and Stacking Chairs are hitting Costco stores this week! They are absolutely perfect for homes, daycares, parties, etc. and would be great as your kids’ Thanksgiving Table this year.
The table comes in our traditional almond color, and the cute stack chairs are available in blue, green, and almond. The great thing about our tables and chairs is that they clean up super easily. They can handle food spills, finger paints, and craft paints, coloring, etc. Another thing I love about these products is they are unique! At Lifetime, we are inventors, ...